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About The Polk County post. (Independence, Or.) 1918-19?? | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1919)
(Copyright.) How he came to he braking on the C. I. W. It would be Impossible to say. It Is doubtful if Legs Brown himself knew. He was a boomer brakeman, and, as such, he traveled by no schedule whatever. To ordinarily And him at any glveu time, you might Inquire on any railway division In America with an equal chauce of success. He reminded you of that Insect whose amiable disposition and atten uated appearance have won for It the sobriquet of “ grand-daddy-longlegs.” Hence, Brown’s own nickname. Not withstanding his fragile proportions, however, when occasion arose he could wield his huge lists with force suffi cient to fracture a Jaw-bone or drive a man's ear Into the side o f his head— a fact that hud been demonstrated to the sorrow o f more thun one belliger ent hobo. As the long train of flat cars writhed In and out among the sund hills, Brown, stationed a short distance ahead o f the caboose, was the only per son visible. At the last stop, Murphy, the con ductor, had received a telegram warn ing him to be prepared for an attack when they entered Sundvllle. A large number of hoboes were gathered there and had taken possession o f the town, explaining to the unhappy citizens the necessity o f majority rule, If the re publican form of government was to be maintained in the land. Previous experience similar to this had detracted from the novelty o f the situation for the few inhabitants of S andville; but the hoboes were becom ing bolder, and spoke of capturing the next train that came thither for the purpose of making their escape. Whereupon the station agent had grown alarmed-and sent the telegram. Among his other characteristics, Brown was Intensely loyal to the road that chanced to employ him. Any ac tion such ns that contemplated by the hoboes was resented as a pwsonal a f front. Furthermore, at this particular time he knew that the president o f the road was but a few hours behind in his special, and Brown deemed It his duty to do ull In his power to prevent any unpleasantness when the great man should arrive. Therefore ns they drew near the little hamlet he returned to the ca boose and conferred with the conduc tor. "Th ey’s no use runnin’ clear In, Jim. You better stop on the edge of this here metropolis while I go in an’ reconnolter the force o f the enemy, as they say in the army.” “ I wouldn’t advise you to go alone. Legs. You can’t tell what those boes’ll do if they're drunk.” “ Why, Jim, you know them fellers ’re like sheep. The only reason I can see fo r ’em actin’ like this Is because they got a leader. I f that’s the case, all I got to is to sling him around like he didn't cost much, uu’ thnt’ll take the fight right out o f ’em. Besides, if a bunch of us go in, they’ll git reudy for trouble.” “ All right, you cun go while we stop fo r water. That’ll give you time to see what they’re up to.” So it was that, on foot and unaccom panied, Legs Brown ambled into the captured town. He lmd no deuht ns to the location o f the triumphant ho boes, for, though It was now almost dark, the only place thnt showed a light was the saloon, and to this he di rected his steps. At the bar stood a swarthy, well-set fellow, whose curly hair and high cheek-bones, together with the pecu liar formation o f his bead, marked him as a native o f Poland. Tills worthy was the most boisterous of the lot, but Brown thought it hardly likely that he was the leader, giving him scant attention, therefore, ns he strode for ward and ordered a drink. “ Here, ye rube, ye better ask me fer what ye want, 'r I ’ll break ye In two,” said the tramp aggressively, pausing tn the act o f raising a glass to his lips. Brown, reaching for his own drink, seemed not to hear the words, but his prodigious foot, as If released from a spring, suddenly swept up, and, strik ing the other’s hand, threw the glass, with its contents. Into his scowling face. A storm of laughter arose from the onlookers, who swore, with mighty oaths, thnt it was the funniest thing they had ever seen. The victim, how ever, laughed not at all, but bellowed with rage and pain as the fiery liquid seared his eyes, and repeatedly yelled fo r Brown to come near. Not desirous of being masticated, nor yet willing to move out of the way o f the Pole, who was blindly grop ing for him, Brown chose the only al ternative, and smote him squarely be tween the eyes, so that he crumpled up on the floor. Then, turning to the man's comrades, he broached the busi ness of the evening. “ I Want to tell yon dirty bums that I'm going to take charge of tills here city government from now till 1 leave. I f any o f you've got anything to say, why. you can step up ami say It. You might be able to bluff these poor devils that live here, but I've seen too many boes oot to know what you're made of. You’re all under arrest, an’ the first man that moves'll get plugged.” The brakeman placed a hand I d his hip pocket. which, by the way, held noth ing but hla red bandanna handker chief. “ Now, I want to see the man that’s at the head of this outfit. Who put you up to this Job?" Following a sound of shuffiing foot steps, the Illustrious leader himself appeared In the doorway. Bully Hack- ett’s visage was one o f those o f which the worst dreams nre made. While It was rendered somewhat vacant by the absen(e of his nose, one of bis eyes, and the major portion of his upper lip — unwilling sacrifices to the god o f war — his expression lost uque of Its ferocL ty on that uccount, and his shaggy hair and beard gave him a look that was scarcely human. Mr. Ilackett had been engaged on a private foraging expedition, and knew nothing of the happenings within the saloon, nor saw the brakeumn, as he came toward the bar. “ W ot’s the matter?” he inquired sav agely. “ Didn't ye see that freight pull in?" By wny of attracting his attention, Brown struck him smartly on the part o f bis face formerly occupied by his nose. “ Yes, an’ she’ll lay there till she rots, If she wnits fer you to take her out By the time I git through with you, you'll be ready to crawl in your hole,” said the brakemau. He had seen the train crew gathered in the shadows outside the door and novy bad little to fear from the other hoboes. “ Better take off your coat because I ’m not a-goin’ to knock you ou t I ’ll make you quit like a dog, so the rest of these gents’ll see what you are,” stated Brown, removing his own outer garment. Hackett waited not for further ad vice, but lashed out so viciously with his right arm that Brown was taken unawares, and, had tt not been fo r the bar at his back, he would have gone down lgnomlnously. Even so, he was in an evil plight, for the tramp, seeing his opportunity, rushed in, raining blows on the face and body of his op ponent. Then, indeed, did it seem that fhe brakeman had been overconfident In his boasting. The other hoboes shout ed encouragement to their champion, and the train crew were only restrain ed from joining In the fight by Uie con ductor, who continued to voice his be lie f in Brown’s prowess. Veteran o f a hundred battles, Brown’s first move was to stop the finding arms. This he did by the sim ple expedient o f twining his own about them. Gradually, with the apparent sinuosity o f n boa' constrictor, he wrapped his limbs about those of the other, and for a moment lifted his own feet clear of the floor, making Hackett support the weight o f both their bodies. Then, unmindful of his strug gles, Brown as carefully freed himself, sending the hobo backward with a solid Jolt on the spot where his first blow had landed. Brown was Intent on proving a the ory that he had long held, namely, that a man, though lnwnrdly a coward, may fight with seeming bravery so long ns the blows o f his adversary have not the appearance o f being well Judged or aimed with accuracy; but that a succession o f blows, however light, on a Sensitive spot will make him quit If he lias the least vestige o f a yellow strenk. During the next few minutes, so fiercely did Hackett assail him that the brakeman was almost entirely on the defensive. • More thnn once he felt the impact o f the tramp’s horny fist on tils face, but he still held to his purpose. When the opening offered, his hand flashed out, striking with Invariable precision the spot he had selected for his attack. Hackett manifested his displeasure at this mode of warfure, evidently thinking that Brown acted dishonor ably In profiting by the absence o f his nasal feature. For a long time they fought, neither gaining the advantage. Brown was bleeding freely from the mouth, and one eye was fast swelling shut; but his antagonist was also bndly bruised, the remnant o f his noae being quite raw. O f the two, Ilackett seemed the more fatigued. Excessive drinking had made him short-winded, nnd he breathed heavily. The brakeman now began to force the fighting, striking more dften in the same spot. Hackett gave ground and once he glanced back, as if seeking a way o f escape. “ Stand up an’ fight, why don’t you?” panted Brown. “ You claim to be the champeen bo. Well, I ain’t no kind of a champeen, an’ here you're tryin’ to quit before I git warmed up. What kind of fightln' do you call that? Come on nn' mix It a little.” But Hackett had had enough. Hla spirit was gone, and he slunk back into the crowd, whimpering. • “ Stop ’lm, boys; stop -im,” he plead ed. “ My heavens, my mug's broke Ini I can’t fight no more.” "You don't need to he scared. I'm satisfied,” answered Brown. “ I knew you was a quitter the minute I seen you, an’ I wnnted to show you up, so you couldn’t lend these dubs Into na more deviltry. What'll we do with ’em, Jim?” he asked, turning to the con ductor. “ The best thing will he to lock ’em In a box car on', hand ’em over to the sheriff at Bennington," replied Mur phy, who was guarding the door. From the dark recesses o f the ca boose he had brought forth an old re volver. With It to uphold his author ity, llio erstwhile conquerors were placed in line and marched to the waiting train, escorted hy the crew. T o Brown, tills closed I lie Incident He marveled greatly, therefore, when there came a commendatory letter from the company's chief executive, to gether with a small package, which, on examination, was found to contain a gold watch. “That business must've leaked oat some way or other,” be remarked thoughtfully. PLACES READJUSTMENT DATA AT npdiçultural COMMAND OF BUSINESS WORLD enlightened organization fo r recon struction. “ History records but few fruitful governmental agencies that did not | have a firm nnd penetrating quality nt the base. Ruining the framework fo r tho task Is merely a. matter of me- chaulcs In organization. • * • In Washington—The council of national o f the services of an organization that tho meantime the council and advisory defense announces Its readiness to fo r many months has been establish commission should accumulate all of place at the command o f the business ing connections and perfecting facili the literature bearing upon this quos- world the Information contained In ties fo r tho securing of every sort ot tiou uud form li Into u working li the voluminous collection o f data vital Information at tho eurllcst possi brary. “ It nmy be thnt ns the war nears Its brought together, classified, Indexed, ble moment It Is available. Through and partly digested by its reconstruc the fact that the council o f national ends and ns the issue between am tion research division. It also offers defense Itself consists o f six secre tocracy nnd democracy becomes ever the services o f this division in the taries o f administrative departments sharper nnd more terrible, the civilized procurement o f such further special o f the government, nnd by virtue of world w ill demand that Immediately Information as may be desired and the further fact that fo r more than at tho war’s close nil reconstruction Which may aid in the reorganization tw o years the council has been en o f tho world's affairs be based upon o f Industry and the resumption o f gaged In the closest co-operation with the dictum o f Lincoln that no man la trade, or which may In any other national, state, and local agencies ot good enough to govern any other man manner promote progress in the recon private as well as public bodies, the without that other man’s consent, to reconstruction research division has the end o f approaching the proper struction. been from Its inception possessed ot readjustment o f national, Interna Just what the Information here o f tional, and racial relationships. I offer fered consists o f may be indicated best Invaluable contacts in all directions. The material and staff now placed at this, though, not fo r tho purpose of by reference to some of Its sources and by mention o f a few subjects under the service o f business was originally Injecting - Idealism tn a discussion Intended primarily for governmental where undue accent o f it does not bo- which the material Is subclasslfled: Official Information— The division use, and they will, o f course, continue long, but to emphasize anew that none has undertaken to chart all the fed to function as the governmental clear o f us can see the end of the road eral official bodies that have a point ing house o f reconstruction informa and that therefore all plans for re o f contact with demobilization or re tion. The beginning o f the council’ s construction should be bullded so as construction, and to possess first-hand, researches into reconstruction and re to permit o f flexibility o f action and te Information ns to accom- adjustment matters in this and fo r even o f minor policy at any given ients and plans o f each such body eign countries followed upon a memo time. The main thing now Is to come or bureau. Furthermore, through Its randum addressed to the six cabinet to concrete thinking nnd study o f the “ field service," branching out Into 184,- members forming the council by Gros- entire problem." . Director Clarkson Immediately be 000 state, county, and community or venor B. Clarkson, its director, on May ganizations, including some 1,000 wom 6, 1018. The president of the United gan the organization o f a staff of ex en’s units, the division Is enabled to States received a copy of this memo perts, Including O. M. W. Sprague, maintain direct contact with overy randum, and shortly ufterwurd author professor o f finance and banking nt Harvard, and Herbert N. Shenton of sort o f state and local reconstruction ized the council to begin its studies. In the memorandum in question Mr. Columbia. Out o f this staff work grew activity in the land. A digest is kept Clarkson, after defining the prime the reconstruction research division, o f state reconstruction news. Foreign Reconstruction— The divi problem as being that o f industrial which was organized on February 8, 1019, with Mr. Shenton ns Its chief. sion has access to every important re reconstruction— in broad terms, the “ The reconstruction research divi port o f foreign reconstruction activity, reconversion of industry from the sion," said Charles H. Chase, n mem war basis back to the peace-time basis proposed or accomplished, that reaches and the reabsorption Into industry of ber, “ has come to feel more and more, this country. ^ Domestic Business Background— The the labor employed In the service of as the reconstruction has progressed, that Its Information service should bo division has official contact with all the United States— said : “ It Is elementary that after the war made available to the leaders of pri the war administration boards, bu reaus, and Investigation commission, as America w ill not be the same Am er vate enterprise, Just as It Is made re well as with the federal departments ica. Already she has in muny direc sponsive to the needs o f governmental themselves. Thus It has access' to tions broken with her past and sho agenales.T The problems and respon a great deal o f statistical and" other Is being hourly transformed. The meta sibilities o f reconstruction tend, ns unpublished information, ranging all morphosis Is going on as much In time goes on, to fall more nnd more heavily upon tho shoulders o f busi the way from domestic prices data the thought o f the country as It is ness nnd relatively less upon govern and production estimates, wage data, In tho structure; the same thing will mental machinery. O f the two grand labor supply problems; to notes on be true in the period after the war. divisions o f reconstruction, demobiliza foreign production, the foreign labor New conditions and relationships cre tion nnd reorganization, the former be ahd emigration situation, foreign mar ate new problems fo r nations as well longs chiefly to the government and ket conditions, and finance. The divi as for individuals; and, let me add, the latter devolves mainly upon pri sion has advices as to which industries the change w ill be as great in tho vate enterprise. The form er tends and which sections o f our country are thought and ideals of the nation as It steadily towurd Its conclusion; the picking up and making their recon will be in its strictly material prob latter broadens Into the foundation struction readjustments .the more lems, whether these be military, com o f nn Indefinitely expanding future. promisingly. O f course such a range mercial, or those having to do with And though the government has, nnd o f information, covering physical re- labor. “ Let us grant thnt we shall gain will continue to have Important re 80urces*and available goods, the money sponsibilities In connection with the and credit outlook, relative price and military success. Let us then not fall economic reorganlzatloh o f the nation, price tendencies, foreign prospects, and into the danger-trap o f allowing the It must be acknowledged that those the trend o f actual business develop material effects o f such success to ov who are to deal with these problems ment as represented hy reports of ershadow consideration o f the higher hand-to-hand are the directors o f busi current projects and • undertakings values which give a nation its life. ness undertakings. throughout the United States— such a The civilized world todny, ns we know “ It must be recognized, also, thnt survey must tend to yield more relia that world, may be said to be ono ble Impressions as to what the fu great altar o f sacrifice. I f that Is not we have come out upon a new world. ture may be expected to bring than true now, it certainly will be true if In a sense, In emerging from the can be derived from the more restrict-1 the war continues fo r another year. world wnr. Our Industrial and com ed basis o f judgment o f the average It is our duty In any adequate Intel mercial reorganization must be effect business group. lectual conception o f the task to see ed under conditions that linve under to it that the gains to the moral as gone considerable alteration during Devices of Clipping Bureaus. Public Opinion and General Infor well as the material well-being o f the the struggle. Not only price levels, mation— The division has its own clip nation shall square with the sacrifice. but price ratios also, have been ping bureau, supplemented .by the A little reflection w ill convince one changed, nnd In many cases perma service o f the chief commercial clip thnt this aspect o f reconstruction is nently so. New Industries have arisen; ping bureaus. Thus it is enabled to fhe fundamental aspect and that upon markets have been altered; interna sift practically everything in public it must be predicated all successful tional economic relations are modified; means o f transportation nnd communl- print that has a bearing upon any plans In this direction. phase o f reconstruction. A ll this ma “ A year ago we were a great, lazy entlon have been partially revolution terial Is classified, Indexed, and made democracy. Lincoln said, ‘A fa t hound ized; but nothing has undergone great ready fo r reference. The Industrial won’t hunt.’ That sentence illumined er change than our social viewpoint, or financial organization or trade our national disease. The transfor and especially the viewpoint o f labor. paper that chooses to tap this resource mation from that condition is already There are new opportunities and new will no doubt* find unexpected stores under wny. Soon the spirit of the na and promising outlooks, but they are o f information. From the siftings of tion will ,be a burning flnine. There not quite like those o f pre-war times. Its Incoming Information the division will be sloughed off the scales fostered The ehessbonrd has been shaken; some Issues a daily digest o f reconstruction by a love o f luxury and the loose and of the chessmen have disappeared, news, Intended primarily fo r the use boastful thinking that have been our while several others have been moved o f the council and government bu curse In the last generation. Out o f forward or backward a little. “ Not only have purely business fac reaus, but available also to other In the turmoil and the sacrifice w ill come stitutions whose relations to recon discipline and orderly living and think tors altered, but new duties have struction problems are such as to en in g; and, therefore, with sequential arisen— the social responsibility o f the title them to the service. and Irresistible logic will come de business enterprise lms become a much in thus proposing to extend Its serv mands fo r new conditions o f living more serious matter than It used to ice, the council opens to the business commensurate to the new Ideals. Again be. In the light o f world develop public probably the largest and nlost I repeat, here Is the fundamental re ments It Is obvious that our business complete assembly o f up-to-the-minute construction to which the American system must prove Its resourceful reconstruction Information In exist government should address Itself, and ness; It must demonstrate hitherto ence. The undertaking also Implies only herein can be found the policy unrevealed capnclty for readjustment; the proffer to Industry and commerce which shall be the groundwork of any it must show n disposition to meet and satisfy certain species o f expectation which have gained recognition during the wnr and can no longer be uncere moniously Ignored or suppressed. As Secretary Redfleld says: W e ennnot be a law unto ourselves any more.' General and continuous prosperity must he underwritten nnd guaranteed, If our institutions are to avoid the risk o f n trial at the bar o f public discontent. Rules of thumb are llnMe to prove Inadequate In this period of readjustment. Nothing short o f alert open-mindedness, reinforced hy pos session o f the fullest available Infor mation, will servo. In «flew o f those facts the business world Is entitled to the fullest measure o f assistance that governmental agencies are pre pared to render It. If Is In the spirit o f that principle that the files o f the council's reconstruction research divi sion nre now thrown open to the busi ness public.” Inquiries may be made by written communication, by telephone, or by personal representative. Requests should be addressed to the Reconstruc This mall car, a trophy of war, surrendered by the Germans to the tion Research Division, Counclt o f Na Americans, Is now In the service between Paris snd Coblenz, carrying corre tional Defense. 18th and D streets, N. W., Washington, D. C. spondence fo r the Yanks o f the American army o f occupation In Germany. Resaaroh Division of the Council of National Defense Offers All Jts Facilities to Aid in Reorganization of Industry and Resumption of Trade—Burden of Reconstruc tion Must Fall on industry. HUN MAIL CAR IS USED BY TH E A. E. F. SUCCESS IN GROW ING D A TES Process of Ripening Fruit and Method of Rooting Offshoots Makes Culture Possible. (Prepared by the United States Depart ment of Agriculture.) Date growing in parts of the United States now gives promise of commer cial success as a result of work con ducted by the United States depart ment of agriculture to overcome ob stacles thnt for years have stood In the way of their successful culture. Tw o fnctors were largely responsible 'fo r mnklng date growing doubtrtil— the dif ficulty experienced In ripening the fruits, and fnllure of many attempts to root offshoots o f desirable varieties. For the study o f date culture— varie ties, propagation and curing— two ex perimental date orchards were estab lished in California where a large num ber of the best date varieties of the old world have been tested. In 1910 a slow-mnturntion process of ripening the fruit of the Deglet Noor vnrlety was discovered, which gave assurance of successful produetjon in ureas o f high temperature adapted to the culture of dates o f good quality. The problem o f rooting offshoots has now been worked out and no longer offers unusual diffi culties. Date palms are propagated either hy seed or by offshoots, nnd no other method Is known. Seed may be plant ed from the best varieties, but there Is no assurance to the grower thnt he will get a large percentage o f commercial dutes. The offshoot’ of the date palm Is a bud nt the nxil o f the le n f; hence It Is a direct product of the growing stem nnd In vnrlety the same as the parent plunt. The only thoroughly satisfactory method yet devised for rooting young date offshoots consists In the use of a heavily immured nursery bed wljb <n cloth-covered frame Or shed so con structed ns to give maximum heat and humidity. Wnter must he applied in ample nnd regular quantities. Frequent Irrigation and the mainte nance of n high degree of soil fertility by the use o f manure, mulches and cover crops are esscntlul to healthy growth and to the production o f fruit In paying quantities. First-class dates suitable for mltrket can be produced only on soils In a high condition of fer tility and tilth. This condition Is most readily maintained on a well-drained sandy loam. Heavy soils need special attention to Insure the proper penetra tion of the roots nnd distribution o f water. The pruning of bearing polms should consist merely In the removal o f old leaves, up to the -fruit stem o f the form er crop. Young polms should not be allowed to produce heuvy crops of fruit, ns this would be done at the ex pense o f offshoot growth. At the pres ent stage of the Industry the produc tion o f offshoots o f proved varieties Is o f paramount Importance. LA D D ER U S E F U L IN ORCHARD One Shown In Illustration Is Particu larly Adapted for Use Between ’ Top Branches. The orchard ladder Illustrated has the upper portion narrowed to permit o f Us Insertion between branches, uud; with the buse of the ladder broadened Handy Orcnard Ladder. to give It a firm footing. An extensible leg makes It possible to use the lad der on o side hill where It would be difficult or Impossible to use the ordi nary ladder. The ladder stands Inde pendently, despite any Incline o f the ground, the third leg or prop member also being extensible. B ES T PR EP A R A TIO N O F S O IL Thorough Work in Orchard W ill Provo as Profitable aa in Garden With Vegetablee. (Prepared by the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture.) I f the prospective home orehnrdist prepares the soil where his fruits are to stand f s thoroughly ns he does his garden before planting vegetable seeds, the subsequent rapid growth o f' his fruit trees will amply repay him. GOOD T R E E S FO R H O M E YA R D Dwarf Apple and Pear Particularly Good Where Space le Too Small for Standard. (Prepared by the United States Depart ment of Agriculture.) D w arf apple and pear trees have their place tn the home garden or yard, especially under Intensive meth ods o f culture, where the space Is too small to admit readily o f the develop ment o f standard trees.
